3 ways you can enhance a child’s safety while in the presence of HVAC systems

What are some precautions you can take in your home to protect children from HVAC system equipment? 

If you have children in your home, it is important to take precautions to protect them from HVAC equipment. If children are able to gain access to the system, they could burn themselves, come across wiring, or cut themselves on sharp edges. Here are three ways you can educate children on HVAC systems and prevent injury in your home. 

Prevent Access: It is important to prevent access to the system through using locks, barriers and covers. Having these installed prevents children from accessing the system or getting too close to it. These protective barriers play a crucial role in reducing the risk of accidental damage to your HVAC system. Additionally, the installation of protective barriers not only restricts access, but limits the risk of potential liabilities.  Regular maintenance and assessments of locks, barriers and covers will also ensure they are still effective. 

Childproof Vents: Childproofing your HVAC system will help to prevent injuries to curious children. Although vents may seem interesting to young children, they pose a risk of injury to your child. To create a safer environment, consider installing vent covers or grilles. These additions will help to prevent cuts and burns on your little one, but will also ensure no damage comes to your HVAC system. Taking the time to install these precautions will create a worry-free environment for your child to play in!

Secure Thermostat: Creating a secure home environment for your child involves taking preventative measures with household systems. Placing the HVAC thermostat out of reach and using a protective cover is a great way to avoid adjustments made by children. This will not only allow your house to remain at a comfortable temperature, but it will prevent children from setting the system to an unsafe level. Regularly checking your temperature and securing your thermostat system will add safety to your home and bring you peace of mind.

Additional Precautions

There are some other precautions that you should take to protect your children, family and home. It is important to make sure that there are no flammable objects near the HVAC vents. Having flammable objects near the vents such as paper or fabric could cause a fire. Make sure you educate your children on what to do if a fire starts and share emergency numbers with them. 

It is also important to regularly change out air filters in your HVAC system. Children can be sensitive to allergens and changing out the filter can help prevent poor air quality. It is especially important to regularly change out filters if you have pets in the home.

Lastly, education is one of the best ways to prevent accidents. Once your children are old enough, you should take the time to educate them on what an HVAC system is and how they should not touch vents, thermostats, or the system itself. Teaching children the importance of HVAC safety and the potential dangers could prevent injuries. 

Our team at Budget Air is equipped to help you and answer any questions you may have about HVAC safety.